Over the last hundred years, Chinese porcelain has dramatically changed and evolved. Nowadays, porcelain artisans take inspiration from different cultures and artworks. This further increases the value of antique Chinese porcelain and makes them much more remarkable. But due to this and emerging fake copies, identifying valuable and antique Chinese porcelain can be difficult without any skills.
Many factors need to be considered from an expert’s eye. To test whether your Chinese porcelain is valuable or not, determine the age and era of manufacturing by testing the following.
Shape
Chinese porcelain originated in the Song dynasty. At first, only specific shapes were used for porcelain objects. Even in different dynasties, the overall shape of the objects remained identical with very few alterations. These factors alone are determiners of Chinese porcelain. So it is important to assess the shape of the porcelain first. Curves, crevices, and different angles are signs that this porcelain is not from the Chinese dynasties.
Colors
The next test is the color used in the object. Only some specific pigments and colors were present during the Chinese dynasties. If the pigmentation does not match the porcelain object, the item is not an antique. Most of the antique porcelain objects have blue artistry on a white base.
Since there are a variety of blue shades and china had different local shades and imported some dyes at different times in history, only an expert can check the colors on the porcelain and match them with the shape. This way, they can tell when the particular porcelain object was manufactured.
Design
If the colors used are right, then the next thing to consider is the design of Chinese porcelain. The style of the design and painting will tell you in which era the piece was made. Standards of design and painting styles varied from one dynasty to the next.
Glaze
The glaze on the Chinese porcelain helps in understanding the age of the piece. Over time, glaze becomes subjected to water, air, and soil. Moreover, the technique of glazing is also different from dynasty to dynasty.
Clay
Since porcelain is a type of clay, it can also tell a lot. The method of mixing and making clay reached it’s highest and best during the 18th century. So porcelain created after this should not have any defects.
Aging Signs
The technique used in making the porcelain piece will show the aging signs. And in turn, it will confirm the era in which this piece was created. For instance, there may be signs of kiln firing.
Marks
The last thing you need to check is the marks on your porcelain piece. Different marks have different meanings, and experts of Chinese antiques can tell the difference and confirm the era they refer to. If the marks match with the previous characteristics, then the porcelain piece is a genuine antique.
Conclusion
If you want to know whether the Chinese porcelain you own is valuable or not, then you need to consider expert services. Only an expert and practiced eye can catch the differences and point out a genuine from a fake. All the features mentioned above that you need to test for are important if you want to ensure that you have a genuine antique and avoid any risks when selling your porcelain item.
